STEVEN GERRARD has wished Kilmarnock boss Steve Clarke well for the future after he took charge of what is likely to be his last game at Rugby Park on Sunday.

Clarke’s side rounded off the campaign with a 2-1 victory over Rangers as they secured third place in the Premiership and a Europa League qualifying berth next term.

But Kilmarnock look like being under new management by then as the Scottish FA try to conclude a deal to make Clarke the next manager of Scotland in the coming days.

This was an afternoon to remember for the Rugby Park crowd as a Chris Burke strike and penalty from Eamonn Brophy, after a foul from Borna Barisic on Stephen O’Donnell, clinched the victory.

Gerrard said: “Steve Clarke was my selection for Manager of the Year and he has done a terrific job here since before I came in and since I have been competing against him.

“They are well suited to this surface, they are effective on it. Whatever Steve decides to do, I wish him well. He is a good man, someone I get on extremely well with. I thought it was a good game of football today.

“The decision at the end decided the outcome of the game. Everyone will have an opinion on it, I know mine. I am not going to get anything for complaining but it is very soft.

“There is minor, minor contact and someone who is 6ft 3', who is probably 83 kilos has gone over as if he is diving into a swimming pool. There is nothing we can do about it now.”

Rangers cancelled out Burke’s opener when Alfredo Morelos netted just after the hour mark and Gerrard’s side went in search of a seventh consecutive Premiership victory.

It was the Colombian’s 30th goal of the campaign and Gerrard was pleased to see the striker end on a high note after a difficult couple of weeks.

He said: “I will take responsibility for it. I made the changes in certain areas. I thought the performance was OK in certain areas and I can’t fault the effort or the will to try and win the again.

“It was a déjà vu moment when two individual mistakes have really hurt us and damaged us. It is obviously disappointing to lose the game the way we did but I can’t be too critical of the players. They have given me a lot this season and we have to learn and move on for next season.

“It is a great finish [from Alfredo]. A striker’s, poacher’s goal and his all-round level this season deserves 30 goals. So I am pleased for him. I am hoping he has learned a lot from the last four, five weeks. That is what we should all be talking about with Alfredo, his goals his play, his good number nine play.

“Rather than talking about the discipline side of it. It is good for him to go away and remember another goal than the last four weeks.”

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